E. GuigalErmitage Ex-voto Rouge

- 2012

For Syrah lovers only

 $300.00 per bottle Limited availability
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A wine that is produced only in the best years, Ex Voto embodies the Guigal family's quest to not only own vines in the prestigious Hermitage appellation, but also to produce a wine that reflects the unique soils worthy of their relentless efforts. Ex Voto, from the Latin meaning “as the result of a longstanding wish,” represents the pinnacle of the appellation and pursuit. At first sip, it reminds us why the Guigal’s are masters of Syrah.

Provenance

Purchased from E. Guigal
3.21.2016
Ampuis, France
Arrival in our U.S. Warehouse
6.2.2016
Western Carriers, CA
Your
Cellar
4.2021

Fida ships wines in refrigerated containers and stores wines in temperature controlled warehouses.

Data Points

  • Producer

    E. Guigal

  • Wine

    Ermitage Ex-voto Rouge

  • Origin

    Hermitage, France

  • Varietal

    Syrah

  • Appellation

    Hermitage

  • Vintage

    2012

  • Alcohol

    14%

Notes

We’re dealing with perfectionists. In 2000, nearly 60 years after they first started producing a wine from Ermitage, the Guigal’s acquired 4 hectares of vineyards through the acquisition of Domaine de Vallouit in St. Vallier and Domaine Jean-Louis Grippat in Mauve. Like all their holdings, the Guigals would only accept the best. This procurement included portions of celebrated lieu-dits on the hillside—Bessards, Greffieux, L’Hermite, and Murets. With vines up to 90 years in age, each lieu-dit provides unique characteristics to the wine. The differences are important:

Les Bessards (pictured below): Perhaps the best exposed site on the hill, facing south/southwest on predominately granitic soils. Powerful but also wines of finesse, with excellent acidity, ripe tannins, and great length. An average vine age of 90 years with 30% of the plantings dedicated to Ex Voto Rouge. 
Les Greffieux: A large parcel at the bottom of the Hermitage hill; sizeable granitic stones and alluvial debris over deep clay and loam, producing somewhat rustic but powerful, tannic Syrah wines. An average vine age of 30 years with 30% of the plantings dedicated to Ex Voto Rouge.  
L’Hermite: Located at the top of the hill and west/southwest-facing with a mix of soils—loess as well as granite-derived debris and fractured granite underneath. Syrah is planted on granite, while the Marsanne/Roussanne is on the deeper less rocky soils. Exceptional white and more delicate reds. An average vine age of 40-50 years with 20% of the plantings dedicated to Ex Voto Rouge. If you’re interested in learning more about or adding Ex Voto Blanc to your collection, please reach out.
Les Murets: A gentle slope of a vineyard located further east; this southeast-facing site has fine soils with a thin layer of rocky debris—mostly granite mixed with other Alpine rocks. 80% of the Guigal parcel is planted to Marsanne/Roussanne. The 20% of the plantings dedicated to Ex Voto Rouge have an average vine age of 30 years.

 

Right Now

Decanter calls 2012 "an easy vintage to love." The wine is vinified in 100% new barrels and aged for 42 months. As such, as with many of the Guigal’s top wines from the Rhône, this bottle will age gorgeously. If enjoying now, we suggest a long decant to ensure the notes of dark blue fruits, coffee, spice, leather, and iron fully emerge from the glass. 

 

More

Spending massive amounts of time in the confines of my apartment, I find I tend to drink wines from the same regions repeatedly – Burgundy, Champagne, and Piedmont mostly (quarantine has been tough.) I am making a conscious effort to delve into other prominent regions, including wines from the Rhône Valley. It’s almost grilling weather on the East Coast; Guigal Ex Voto will be a fun (re)discovery.

Comments
& Reviews

  • 96 points

    ...roasted alder and juniper notes holding the core of crushed plum and raspberry fruit flavors in check for now. There's a lovely bolt of iron through the finish, along with dried anise and fruitcake tones, while energetic acidity adds length and class to the overall feel. Should settle in nicely with a touch more cellaring, as there's tons of fruit in reserve here. A beauty. Best from 2018 through 2035. 45 cases imported. 

  • 96 points

    The 2012 Hermitage Ex Voto (which I suspect won’t be produced again until 2015) was bottled in January of this year and it’s a big, voluptuous beauty that’s loaded with fruit and texture. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, crushed rocks and a touch of beef blood all soar from the glass of this beauty, which hits the palate with a wealth of sweet fruit, building, ripe tannin and blockbuster length. Liquid Viagra would suffice as a descriptor for this wine, and while it’s already impossible to resist today, it will age effortlessly for 25 or more years.

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